Scales, while all being with different notes and different tones, all have the same basic structure. The starting note, or what is called the root note, is almost always the lowest note you play in the scale. This is also the name of the scale. For example, if the root note (the lowest note) is a C, then the scale is a C scale (Carter 82). Every note in a scale has a specific name. I will be using a C scale for all of my examples because it is simple. The root note is a C, the note after is called a major 2nd (D), then major 3rd (E), perfect 4th (F), perfect 5th (G), major 6th (A), and then the last note is the major 7th (B). Musicians also measure the distance of pitch between the notes. These can be marked as whole or half notes but more commonly, tone and semitone. "The root note is the first thing that the name of a chord lists" (Carter 82). In the past quote and paraphrase, I used both scale and chord. Scales and chords are very connected, as I will demonstrate in later postings. Going off of my example with the C scale, if I play a C chord, the notes I use for the chord are the same notes that are in the scale. A typical C chord consists of C, E, and G, which are all in the C scale (explained better later).
This video demonstrates the C scale throughout three different octaves. It shows how each octave of the scale can be built off of the previous one. (P.S. it's supposed to be "scales" not "chords" I'm just really bad with technology and don't know how to fix it).
Do you think learning scales is imperative to having a good foundation for music?
Carter, Nicolas. Root Notes Explained. Music Theory From Absolute Beginner to Expert. N.p.: Nicolas Carter, 2016. 82. Print.
